Album: What’s Another Night?
Artist: Apes of the State
Released: April 22, 2025; Self Release
This is the third full length release by Apes of the State, fourth if you want to count the solo album no one really talks about. As a band I really enjoy their commitment to DIY music and the folk punk genre/community and also their general disdain for the government. If you are a fan of any of those things, you will be happy to know that all those things are found in spades on this release.
Ever since Apes of the State went to a full electric touring band, the folk punk that lives in my heart has been a little bummed. However, all the other punks that live in my heart tell that little shit to stop whinging the moment the electric guitar piece hits midway through, “I’m Okay”. Its truly incredibly good and really illustrates the change was a good decision. The song is about dealing with the angst of growing up and realizing thing aren’t working out like you had planned and dealing with the desire to make things better. This is a recurring theme of the album as well. I struggle to say that this is the best song on the album because there are other solid bangers, but it is up at the top of the list.
“Punk Rock Shows In Heaven” is my favorite song on the album, it is the classic, Apes of the State fans have come to know and love. Its got acoustic guitar, punchy drum beats and self reflective lyrics. Whats not to love? At face value, it’s a song about what it’s like in heaven but deep down I think it’s really about making life here and now more like what we imagine heaven to be. This hopeful sentiment is what keeps me coming back to Apes’ music.
“Hot Summer Night’s Part 1 and Part 2” are cool songs Part 1 is a look at the nostalgia for youth with an ire of self judgment. Part 2 offers the same nostalgic look at the past but offers a more mature and developed take and the desire for simpler times and a reprieve from the responsibilities of adulthood. The two songs combined really feel like a coming of age story, because of the “character growth” between part 1 and 2 and the neat little, “where are they now?” retrospective that makes up the later half of part 2. It really delivers the vibes a later 80s earlier 90s movie in the vain of The Sandlot or Stand by Me. I guess that is what I think about when I get all nostalgic.
What’s Another Night is a great addition to the Apes of the State Discography. It offers a few more glorious steps into a electrified musical direction while providing big payoffs for long time fans. I especially like the call backs to their album “Pipe Dream” found in the “Intro” track and “Round 2” which is a reprise of “Fight Song”. Bringing it back as if to say to everyone that the fight continues, and we ain’t getting through it without each other. That is, I think that over all message of Apes of the State music, and the thing that makes it meaningful to me. They aren’t afraid to point out that they’ve got problems, that we’ve got problems, and that society at large is a mess. More importantly though if we work together we can solve them.
